Chapter Three

Queen Takes King

Lunch had long since passed us by, but the three of us still remained as we continued chatting in the cafeteria. I sat there rubbing the brim of my coffee cup as my mind lost itself in thought, I reflected back on the Singularity in Orleans. Had I really made the right decision by betraying Alter Jeanne? After everything she had shown me and after all of her suffering. Didn't that make me no better than the people that betrayed her in life. But I couldn't have betrayed Jeanne either, because doing so would have also been have made me no better than the people who betrayed her. Jeanne and I had also made a pact and become close friends so it would have been like me betraying a friend. Jeanne and I were closer, but in our short time it felt as if Alter Jeanne and I had made some sort of connection. So either way I had been screwed, because I had ended up betraying someone that had relied on me and was close to me. I was also so concerned about the choice I had made… That I instinctively felt myself reach up and grasp the shoulder where Jeanne's command seal was. It was then when I remembered that I had used a Command Spell for Jeanne to boost her strength and power. When I had checked when we got back, her third seal had not returned and it remained at two command seals, while the command seal I had used for Scathach had returned. I didn't understand why her seal had not returned like Scathach's, but even though I didn't understand it. It didn't change the fact that Jeanne's command seals would not come back when I used them, so that means I had to be careful with how I used them in the future…

"Chris!" A Voice broke through my thoughts and I felt as someone grasped my arm shaking it. My head shot up and I saw Jeanne looking at me with a concerned expression on her face. "Chris are you alright?"

"A-Ah Yeah I'm fine. I was just thinking that's all" I said reassuringly and Jeanne retracted her hand back to her lap giving me almost an almost forced smile as it seemed like she wasn't convinced. I raised my hand up to my mouth and cleared my throat. "Ahem anyway Jeanne!" I said and Jeanne's eyes opened at the sound of her name. "Back in your fight with Gilles. You did something I never saw you do before, your sword was engulfed in your flames." I said recalling what I had seen. From my side I heard Mashu let out a surprised gasp. "It looked like you doused your sword in your own blood and then you murmured something in French that I didn't understand" I said tilting my head. "Were you always capable of doing that?" I inquired and a nervous smile formed on Jeanne's lips.

"Too be honest with you Chris, I never knew I could do that either." Jeanne said as she rubbed her hands. "It was just all out of the blue that it suddenly occurred to me and in the heat of the moment I just did it, almost as if a memory returned to me. My body and my lips moved on its own." Jeanne said and I rubbed my chin. "Could it be perhaps like I suspect…. No I don't have any further evidence to back that theory. So it's just a theory until then." I thought to myself as I stared at Jeanne.

"It just occurred to me that I forgot to ask if you're alright Jeanne, My apologies. Have your injuries healed? What about your left arm and the cuts on your hand? You were also burned pretty badly." I asked and Jeanne waved her healed hands in front of her.

"I'm fine! It's no problem at all Chris! See! Doctor Roman had me treated and a few days worth of bedrest healed my wounds. However thank you for asking!" Jeanne said and I smiled reassured. "Also all of my memories have returned to me and my parameters have been restored to how they should be." Jeanne said.

"Parameters…. That sounds like something straight out of a video game." I murmured. "How do I check these parameters and can I increase your parameters Jeanne?" I said jokingly. Jeanne only tilted her head in confusion.

"Video…. Game?" Jeanne murmured confused.

"Senpai please don't confuse Jeanne-san…." Mashu murmured in a hushed tone, it almost sounded as if she was scolding me. Jeanne looked at Mashu and then returned her attention to me.

"Ah I'm sorry Chris. I'm afraid I won't be granted any of the memories of the modern era sadly, so my knowledge is still limited to that of my life in 15th Century France. I'm still the same ditsy French Girl you know. So you'll have to forgive me." Jeanne said apologetically. "It took me quite a long time just to learn how to operate the doors around here. Who would have ever thought that now you can just touch something on the wall and a door will just swoosh open!" Jeanne chuckled embarrassed.

"It's true; you should have seen her when she encountered her fist automatic door. Jeanne almost leaped 10 feet back!" Mashu exclaimed and I couldn't help myself but laugh.

"M-Mashu…." Jeanne murmured as her cheeks turned red with embarrassment. I reached over and patted Jeanne's hand attempting to comfort her.

"It's alright! Don't worry Jeanne; we'll have you sorted out in no time. You'll be sending text messages in no time." I said still laughing.

"T-Thank you Chris. I look forward too whatever this text messaging is." Jeanne said bowing her head and I could only laugh some more. Even Mashu joined me in laughing and eventually so did Jeanne.

A few moments passed by before we got a hold of ourselves and continued our conversation.

"Mashu I'm a bit curious you never really explained what a Demi Servant is. You haven't really explained it to me. Were you always this skilled?" Jeanne inquired. Before Mashu could even speak up I placed my hand on Mashu's head and interrupted.

"Well you see Jeanne, a Demi Servant is what happens when a Human and a Servant get together under the sheets and make lovey dovey." I said jokingly with a cheeky smile. A wave of red washed over Jeanne's face and she covered her face with her hands as I chuckled.

"C-Chris stop it! Don't say such things Christopher!" Jeanne murmured. "They're embarrassing." Jeanne decried and I could only help but chuckle some more.

"W-What are you talking about Senpai?" Mashu murmured from underneath my hand and I looked down at her.

"O-Oh it's nothing Mashu, you don't need to worry about it. I was just teasing Jeanne, that's all..." I said as I reached behind my head and rubbed my neck. I chuckled awkwardly as I thought. "I forgot Mashu doesn't know anything about those types of things. If Roman ever found me saying these things he'd probably dissect me alive." Mashu blinked at me still confused, but eventually her gaze directed back at Jeanne.

"Ahem anyways." Mashu said clearing her throat and Jeanne brought her hands down from her face, her cheeks still a little flustered. "No Jeanne, I'm afraid I've never been this skilled or let alone strong, I could barely do a pushup before I became a Demi Servant." Mashu said as she rubbed her coffee cup shyly. "My skills and abilities are how to put it…. They are borrowed from someone else." Mashu explained. "I'm sure Senpai has told you about the incident that happened last year at Chaldea." Mashu inquired and Jeanne nodded her head in acknowledgement. "Well last year in the attack on Chaldea I was caught up in an explosion and mortally wounded… And as I felt my life fading away, the servant that I was contracted with to fight in Fuyuki with appeared to me and he offered me his abilities alongside his Noble Phantasm in exchange that I would eliminate the singularities." Mashu explained and Jeanne listened intently with wide eyes.

"What was the name of this heroic spirit? If you know their name, that is!" Jeanne inquired.

"I'm afraid I do not know as he did not tell me before he disappeared. So whenever I use my Noble Phantasm, it's more of a haphazard attempt and the name of my Noble Phantasm is one of my own naming so it's not the true name." Mashu said. "My skills are really that of his and I've just been getting by on luck alone." Mashu murmured.

"I see… Well whatever the case Mashu, I'm just glad that you're okay now! That's all that's important!" Jeanne said with a smile and I saw out of the corner of my eye Mashu put on a somewhat forced smile.

"Y-Yes you're right!" Mashu replied.

"Yeah Mashu that's all that matters is that you're here with us now. So don't sweat it so much." I said as I wrapped my arms around Mashu's neck and brought her into my chest hugging her.

"S-Senpai! C-Can't breathe!" Mashu exclaimed into my jacket. I chuckled as I let her go and Mashu returned to the upright position as she adjusted her glasses on her face. A brief moment passed and a smile formed on Mashu's lips. "Y-Yes both of you are right. Thank you." Mashu said nodding her head.

"You've done great so far Mashu, so you shouldn't beat yourself up." I said placing my hand on Mashu's shoulder and Mashu was taken aback as she looked at me.

"Thank you Senpai." Mashu said and nodded her head. I retracted my hand back and placed my other hand on Jeanne's shoulder.

"Besides I'm sure Jeanne would be willing to help you." I said looking back at Jeanne. Jeanne was a little taken aback, but nodded her head.

"Ah W-Well I don't have much experience with a shield! However I do have combat experience so I can help you if you need it Mashu!" Jeanne exclaimed and a soft smile formed on Mashu's lips as tears formed in her eyes. Mashu wiped her eyes with her sleeves and nodded her head.

"Thank you once again, both of you." Mashu said.

"Speaking of helping people…." Jeanne said and there was a tapping noise. I turned around to see Jeanne glaring at me with her finger tapping against the table.

"Later…" I said in a hushed tone and Jeanne narrowed her eyes at me. Mashu's eyes went back and forth between Jeanne and I as we glared at each other.

"Well anyway…" Jeanne said with a heavy sigh after a few moments passed. "You said very little about what you and the Director talked about during your briefing." Jeanne inquired and I turned my attention towards her.

"There isn't much else to say." I said as I rested my arms on the table. Jeanne proceeded to give me the look that most women give when they aren't convinced of something. "What else is there? I told you what the Director said…." I murmured and then I felt a tug on my sleeve. I turned and faced Mashu who was looking at me curiously.

"You've yet to tell me what you and the Director discussed." Mashu said and I sighed.

"Oh Alright I guess I can recap what we talked about, just for you Mashu." I said and then proceeded to inform Mashu about what was discussed…

"And that's really about it, we still know jack squat. Meanwhile Clock tower is still chasing their tail in circles, and they refuse any assistance." I said as I gripped my hands tightly.

"Clock tower?" Jeanne murmured and I looked at her.

"Oh yeah that's right you don't know about Clock tower." I said and Jeanne shook her head. "Clock tower is basically in a nutshell, a modern day organization of Magus who teach, practice, research, and protect the secrets of magic." I said and an ooh sound left Jeanne's mouth. "Chaldea Security Organization gets a substantial amount of funds from Clock tower, but Chaldea itself is independent of Clock tower. However I guess you could say they're just wanting to protect their investment." I said leaning forward against the table. "We're basically their attack dogs for hire also." I thought keeping that last part to myself.

"I see now. It makes sense that a group would form around the practice of magic." Jeanne said rubbing her hands. "I also see Magi are as secretive as always." Jeanne murmured.

"Well what can you do, I'm not sure how the general populace would react if they knew people could use magic. You never know what type of mindset the mob mentality will take." I said rubbing my hands still. "However I probably might be safe, I mean I can barely remember half the stuff I was taught." I thought to myself. "Though I do suppose there was one thing else the Director and I talked about." I said and I saw Mashu and Jeanne's interest peak even though I didn't think it was that interesting. "Actually now that I think about it, Mashu you might be able to help me." I said turning to Mashu who had a surprised expression face on her. "When I entered the room, the Director was looking back on Professor Lev's research and we talked about him for a short while. So I was wondering; the Director speaks very highly of Lev. What was their relationship Mashu?" I inquired.

"Well it is as you stated she speaks very highly of Professor Lev. I don't know exactly how close they were, but the Director looked up to and respected Lev." Mashu explained. "The Director would often confine in the Professor, I think that she looked up to the Professor and valued his opinion. I can't say for certain, but perhaps Professor Lev was like a mentor to her." Mashu said.

"The Director mentioned that the previous Director was the one who brought Lev here, perhaps she grew up around him." I said.

"I believe that was the case." Mashu said.

"Did you know the Previous Director Mashu?" I asked and Mashu shook her head.

"You mean the Director's father? No I never knew him personally nor did I ever meet him…" Mashu replied.

"I see…" I murmured as I rubbed my chin. "Well I don't think that I was working here when the Director's father was in charge. I think my paychecks have always been signed by Ms. Animusphere." I said cupping my chin as I tapped my finger against it.

"Why are you so interested Senpai?" Mashu asked and I brought my hand down from my chin.

"Oh just my curious nature getting the better of me I suppose." I replied reaching over and rubbing Mashu's head. "If I may ask, what did you think of Professor Lev?" I asked.

"I'm afraid I didn't know the Professor all that well…" Mashu said and I couldn't help but feel a little disappointed. Mashu waved her hands in front of her and her glasses almost fell off of her face. Once Mashu adjusted her glasses properly she cleared her throat. "W-What I mean to say is that I knew Lev and he knew me, but he never confined in me or told me much about himself. However from our interactions he was a kind hearted gentleman who was very intelligent and was always nice to me. I liked him and we got along, but I didn't know him on a personal level only on a professional one. If you wanted to learn more about him you could ask Roman. I'm pretty sure he mentioned once that Lev and him went to Clock tower together." Mashu said and my interest peaked.

"This Professor Lev you speak of, who was he?" Jeanne said and both Mashu and I's attention snapped towards her.

"Oh apologies Jeanne. Mashu and I were here going on about someone you've never even heard of." I said.

"Professor Lev was the Lead technician and Engineer here at Chaldea Security Organization, he invented the Shiva Lens which allows us to observe Humanities future and past. It was the reason why we were able to observe the singularity in your time." Mashu explained.

"Shiva… Is that the blue globe I saw when we first returned to Chaldea." Jeanne inquired and Mashu nodded her head in acknowledgement.

"Well Lev was also the Director of the Eleventh Archaeology Faculty at Clock Tower. He achieved the Fourth Rank at Clock Tower at the age of 20." I said and Mashu turned to look at me.

"Senpai I thought you wanted to know more about Lev, but you sound like you already know quite a bit." Mashu said.

"It's not like I didn't know anything about him. The Director told me a little about him on top of the fact that his research and theories were required reading in my magic studies." I said gesturing my hands. "I just wanted to know more about who Lev was as a person since everyone looked up to him." I said.

"I see, well anyways yes Professor Lev held many titles and Director was once one of them." Mashu said cupping her chin.

"You guys keep speaking with words like was and were. So that means Professor Lev…." Jeanne muttered and I turned to face her.

"Yes I'm afraid so Jeanne, Professor Lev was killed last year in that attack I told you about." I said. I saw Jeanne's eyes saddened and a frown encroached onto her face.

"That's terrible! From what you guys said he sounded like a good man." Jeanne said. "Good men like that don't deserve to die like that, we need more good men in the world not less." Jeanne murmured sadly.

"Yes I had only just met him before he was killed, however such is life. All we can do now is continue fighting in his memory and avenge our fallen by stopping the destruction of Earth and those behind it!" I said and Jeanne and Mashu nodded their head in agreement.

"Yes I too will fight in his memory!" Jeanne exclaimed raising her fist into the air.

"I'm sure he'd be glad to hear that Jeanne." I said and I pulled back my sleeve to look at the time. "Whelp I enjoyed our lunch together and the coffee was great along with our chat, but it's time I head out." I said pulling my sleeve back down before I pushed back my chair and stood up. Mashu and Jeanne looked up at me with concerned expressions.

"Where are you going?" They both asked simultaneously.

"Woah there, I'm just heading back to bed." I said raising my hands up before I tucked them back into my pockets.

"Senpai you can't be serious…." Mashu murmured. I gave her a look that said "Oh yeah I'm Serious." and Mashu only let out a sigh.

"But Chris there's still more I wish to talk to you about." Jeanne exclaimed. "That and I wanted you to show me around." Jeanne murmured with a slight frown on her face and ruffle of her eyebrows.

"We can talk later Jeanne, I'm not going anywhere." I said. "And I'm sure Mashu would be more than happy to show you around." I said and Jeanne ruffled her eyebrows at me some more.

"There's still so much to do in the day, are you seriously going to spend the rest of the day sleeping it away?!" Jeanne exclaimed standing up from her chair.

"That I am indeed. You ladies don't need me to enjoy the rest of your day. So do whatever you want, there's plenty here for you to do at Chaldea Jeanne." I said just before I turned around and started heading out of the Cafeteria. "I'll talk to you later Mashu, Jeanne. And Thank you for the Coffee Mashu, Enjoy the rest of your day ladies." I said waving my hand over my shoulder as I disappeared around the corner…

I watched him as he rounded the corner and disappeared with the wave of his hand. I fell back down in my seat with a heavy sigh. "Even though we talked for a few hours, I hardly got to speak to him about the things I really wanted to talk about." I thought to myself as I slumped back in my chair.

"Jeanne-san is something the matter?" Mashu asked and I looked up to see Mashu staring at me with a concerned expression on my face. I straightened up in my chair and rested my hands on the table as I put on a weak smile.

"I-It's nothing Mashu, I'm fine really." I said brushing my hair behind my ears. After I had spoken that I couldn't help myself as my lips moved on their own and a frown formed on my face. I let out a sigh and I rubbed my shoulders. "Well it's just that I hardly got to talk to Chris about things I really wanted to talk about. "That and I had really hoped we could have spoken more in private." I thought to myself.

"Oh I'm sorry Jeanne, I hadn't realized you wanted to speak with Senpai about important things! My apologies if I had known…!" Mashu exclaimed and I waved my hands in front of myself.

"No, No. Please you have no need to apologize Mashu! It's just that Chris had said he would help me with learning how to read and write and I wanted to ask him about that." I said.

"OH! Well I'm sure if Senpai said he would do it, I'm sure he will! Senpai is a man who keeps his word!" Mashu exclaimed and I nodded my head.

"Yes I know, he kept his word back in Orleans so I have no doubt he will!" I said remembering back to a few day ago when we lifted the flag over Orleans. "I was just wondering when we would start!" I said.

"I'm sure as soon as Senpai is done with his eternal slumber he will keep his word!" Mashu replied and I chuckled while nodding my head. "Anyway Jeanne, Senpai said you two talked over the frustrations you were having! Did everything go over smoothly?" Mashu inquired.

"O-Oh Yes!" I exclaimed. "Chris apologized and I accepted his apology… however there is still some more stuff I wanted to talk about to him in private." I said and Mashu nodded her head in understanding.

"I see now. That's why you wanted to talk to him more, because there are still things the two of you wished to talk over." Mashu said and I nodded my head.

"Yes Thank you for understanding Mashu." I said nodding my head. "M-Mashu…" I stopped myself from continuing and Mashu tilted her head in confusion.

"Yes? What is it Jeanne-san?" Mashu asked.

"It's nothing!" I said shaking my head. "How about you show me more around Chaldea! It would be good for me to spend some time elsewhere besides in the Chapel and my room!" I said standing up as I put on smile.

"Of course Jeanne-san! Afterwards do you want to hang out in my room?" Mashu asked.

"Yes! That would be great Mashu!" I said as I pushed my chair back under the table. Mashu stood up doing the same and she led the way forward as I followed behind in her footsteps…

A Few Minutes Later

After a brisk walk down the halls and through security checkpoints I reached the door to my room. I tapped the panel next to the door and the door swooshed open. Once the door swooshed open it revealed to me, my favorite person sitting in her chair still reading. I stepped inside room and extended my hands out in an welcoming gesture and she didn't even move.

"I have returned your Majesty! Did you miss me?" I said jokingly. Scathach's eyes didn't even look up from her book to acknowledge my presence, completely ignoring me. I returned my hands to my sides and a sigh escaped from my lips. I made my way over towards the desk sitting against the wall where I would work if I needed too, and I pulled out a seat facing Scathach from across the room. Scathach continued to pay me no mind as she flipped a page in her book. I looked over the table and I saw our unfinished game of chess still sat where we had left it. I couldn't help but have a stupid grin on my face as a light bulb went off over my head. I gestured my hands towards the chess board and spoke out breaking the silence. "Scathach our chess game remains unfinished, won't you finish it with me." Scathach however remained unwavered in her ignorance of me.

"Are you perhaps afraid you might lose to me at something… again?" I said with a cheeky grin as I leaned back in my chair. A loud smack intruded my ears as Scathach slammed her book shut and placed it down on the night table next to her chair. Scathach stood up from her chair and made her way over towards me at the desk. Once she had made her way over here, Scathach grasped the top of the chair and looked down at me with an unamused expression on her face before she closed her eyes and pulled the chair out. Once Scathach had positioned herself comfortably she looked at me with her usual expression.

"I didn't know you were so eager to lose." Scathach said as she rested her elbows on the table.

"Well you never know, I could make a comeback." I said amusingly as I grasped one of my white chess pieces and moved it forward on the board challenging her. This only earned me a scoff from Scathach as she looked at the board for a few moments before she made her move. Scathach and I continued back and forth at our chess game for the next couple of minutes. It was Scathach's turn as she reached forward and grasped one of her knights and knocked over one of my bishops getting closer towards my King.

"You didn't ask me over to play chess with you just to be beaten, so tell me what you wanted to talk about." Scathach said as she retracted her hand back to her side of the board.

"No I didn't." I said as I kept my gaze fixed on the board. "I wanted to discuss the Singularity in Orleans with you." I said as I rested my head on my hands and looked up at her.

"Oh? You want my opinion or perhaps my guidance? I thought you didn't need it since you never seem to ask for it every other time." Scathach retorted.

"You know for a 2000 year old woman you can act really immature sometimes." I said and Scathach narrowed her eyes at me from behind intertwined fingers.

"You're one to talk." Scathach murmured from behind her hands. Scathach stared at me in silence for a few moments before she spoke up. "So what is it specifically about the Singularity that you wish to discuss?"

"I wanted to ask you, do you think I ended up making the right decision back there with Alter Jeanne and Jeanne?" I said and Scathach's eyes narrowed at me. "I mean sure Alter Jeanne was cruel and committed several atrocities, but I just don't know if I could truly call her evil. She was more like an angry child who let her emotions control her." I murmured. Scathach stared at me in silence for a few moments, her eyes fixated on me.

"That's not really for me to say whether or not you made the right decision. It was your choice and I believe that only you can know if you made the right choice, not I or anyone else. Every man and women is responsible for his or her own actions." Scathach said and my gaze fell down back to the chessboard. "However what I will say is that you should have told me about your dream with Alter Jeanne. You should be careful as to not be easily manipulated or come under the influence of enemy servants. Mashu and I can't protect you in your dreams." Scathach said and I sighed.

"I know, I know. You don't need to get on my case too; Jeanne and I already talked about it this morning." I said rubbing the back of my neck.

"Rightfully so I imagine, since that was her Alter self and you could have ended up betraying her and causing her death." Scathach said and I only let out a deeper sigh.

"Well I didn't." I replied.

"Obviously." Scathach said. "Although I guess you can't really say it was her Alter Self since Alter Jeanne was created by Gilles desires." Scathach said.

"I don't know. Do you really think someone could have no hate or anger?" I asked.

"I don't know, that's something you would have to ask Jeanne." Scathach replied.

"Well that's not really helpful answer." I said rubbing my sides.

"Well I'm not really one to answer for other people." Scathach said and I grumbled. "Alright, Alright. If you're so keen to hear my insight. I would say no there is no such thing as a human who does not harbor hate nor anger, it is more than likely the case that Jeanne is not as pure as some portray her as and that she probably just conceals her emotions better than most to put on a brave face. Especially given everything she's been through." Scathach said and I couldn't help but flinch as I remember what Alter Jeanne had shown me.

"Jeanne is someone you can't understand unless you've walked down a similar path as hers." Scathach said and I reflected on what she had said.

"I know it sounds bad of me to say this, but I found myself agreeing with some of what Alter Jeanne ended up saying." I said. "Despite everything that has happened in human history, we just seemed doomed to repeat our mistakes over and over. We murder and hurt our fellow human beings, and we steal and pillage. I know that doesn't mean we should just murder everyone, because then we are no better and would only let evil win in the end, but it just kind of feels like….I just can't help but feel like humans will never rise above our inner evils." I murmured.

"Humans are complicated creatures." Scathach said as she reached forward and moved one of her chess pieces across the board. "Humans are in a constant struggle to overcome their inner evils. We are always striving to self improve and overcome obstacles in our path." Scathach said. "Human progress is proof of that, Humanity today is not the same Humanity of Jeanne and Alter Jeanne's time. We've overcome several obstacles and will continue to do so even as we populate the stars." Scathach said as I moved one of my chess pieces.

"Well it's not that far off; we're already working on putting people on Mars. The Russians have a Moon base now." I said as Scathach looked at my chess pieces.

"Yes so I've heard. I've also heard the Americans are building one as well not to be out done." Scathach said and I couldn't help but chuckle. "Even so problems will continue to follow us even into the stars, and we must continue to try and overcome them. We're not perfect and we do bad things so some people might think humans are utter trash and garbage... And they're not completely wrong, humans are weak and pathetic, but it's the drive that humanity has to overcome those weaknesses that makes them strong and worth fighting for." Scathach said.

"Oh so does that mean you're weak and pathetic Scathach? You're human after all." I asked raising an eyebrow as I crossed my arms.

"All Humans are, with no exceptions. Not I, Not Jeanne, nor you. Nobody is perfect, because we are all a slave to emotions. However I'm not going to beat myself up over it." Scathach said. "Some of us are better than others and fated for greater things like leading nations or solving problems facing our time. However in the bigger picture of the universe it does not matter be it if you are Queen, King, Emperor, or President, none of us really matter. The Universe does not care if I exist or not, the universe will keep on going with or without me." Scathach said as she moved another chess piece knocking over one of my own knights. "So in the end it doesn't really matter, how you want to live your life is what matters. It doesn't matter what you or the rest of the Universe thinks, so long as I am content with what how I am living with my life." Scathach said. "So if Jeanne was content with how she lived her life, so be it. That should not be something that anyone should try to undo, and that was exactly what her Alter self was trying to do. Alter Jeanne was trying to undo all of what Jeanne fought for, what we all fight for. A Brighter future for humanity or ourselves. In Alter Jeanne's case it was likely a brighter future for herself." Scathach said and I moved one of my chess pieces.

"I see…" I murmured as I scratched my cheek.

"All I will say is that the Mission was the priority, and our mission was to take out the cause of the singularity. This was Alter Jeanne, who also turned out to be the Holy Grail." Scathach said as she reached over and grasped her Queen and moved it across the board. Knocking over my King Scathach claimed victory just like that and I had hardly even noticed that she had lead everything up to that outcome. "Now checkmate." Scathach said and I leaned back in my chair in defeat. "And with that I shall retire. I hope you enjoy your defeat." Scathach said mockingly as she pushed herself up out of her chair. I grasped my chin as I watched Scathach walk her way over to the bed and crawl under the covers. All I could do was sit there and reflect back on what she had said. I saw Scathach's hand reach out from under the covers and she tapped the console on the night table. The lights dimmed and everything went dark leaving me alone to my thoughts….

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